Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 391 i Farms and Farm Machinery

There is no boost system, meaning full power is available for every task, if required. Billed as the world’s first half-tracked tractor with full suspension, the 445 horsepower (332kW) Axion 960 Terra Trac and 355hp (265kW) Axion 930 Terra Trac are the first models in Claas’s 900 Series with Stage 5 Emissions Standards. Claas Harvest Centre product manager for tractors Shane Barratt says the tractors have the tracked assembly technology used in Claas’ grain and forage harvesters, as well as a drive control system and steering assist activation that makes the turning circle as small as five metres. “In short, Terra Trac improves traction and reduces soil compaction, whilst still retaining the driving characteristics of a wheeled tractor,” he says. “With a total footprint of 3.87 square metres, the 890mm…

Hardi Australia is adding the advanced H-Select nozzle control technology as an option for its popular Commander trailed sprayer. Previously available on self-propelled Rubicon and Saritor 62 Active machines, H-Select nozzle control technology uses four-head nozzle bodies arrayed in individual boom sections. An autonomous controller monitors each boom section’s speed against the set spray rate, then selects nozzle heads rapidly and precisely in order to achieve consistent spray delivery. Hardi Australia chief executive Bill Franklin says the company developed the H Select system to place chemicals exactly where they are needed. “In other words, predictably getting the right amount of chemical in the right place is what spraying science is all about. Achieving that with reliability is the Holy Grail for sprayer hardware,” he says. “This is precisely why we…

In building the new Fendt Ideal, special attention has been paid to efficiency, grain and straw quality, reliability, easy and logical user-friendliness, as well as an innovative sensor technology for optimal machine setting. “We’re very excited to be offering the Fendt Ideal combine harvester into the ANZ region,” Agco product marketing manager for harvesting Jake Kerr says. Agco has developed the Ideal combine range in four models, ranging from 451 to 790 horsepower (336 to 589kW). The Fendt Ideal 8, 9 and 10 feature high-performance MAN engines, and the Ideal 7 features an Agco power engine. THRESHING AND SEPARATING The Helix threshing unit and separating system means grains are separated cleanly without negatively impacting on the straw quality, due to the longest rotor on the market today, coming in at…

Announced in the federal budget, the funding will be invested in information and communications technology systems the government says will help farmers and exporters get their goods into overseas markets more reliably. “The new systems will reduce the impact to trade from system outages, reduce the regulatory burden on exporters, improve access to the kind of information that a business needs to enter a market, and ensure government services can adapt to the evolving digital global trade environment,” budget papers say. “Targeted investments in technology and in the improvement of regulatory compliance processes will ensure the government’s agricultural export services keep pace with these changes and support the aim of a $100 billion agriculture industry by 2030.” The government will also spend $106.2 million over four years from 2020–21 to…

Sales in the month of September were up 29 per cent on the same month last year and are now up 22 per cent year to date, supported by good weather, demand for produce and the federal government’s instant asset write off program. State-by-state NSW was the standout, based on its continued recovery, with sales up a whopping 41 per cent compared to September 2019 and now sitting 30 per cent ahead for the year. Victoria reported another strong month, up 27 per cent and now 22 per cent ahead for the year to date (YTD), while Queensland was up 22 per cent to be 14 per cent up for the year. Western Australian sales were down due to some negative weather events and remains 4 per cent behind last…

In a move to help farmers get the most out of their precision agriculture technology, John Deere has launched a new website it hopes will serve as “an evolving tool and library of information for use by industry”. The new John Deere Digital Agriculture Hub, designed specifically for Australian and New Zealand farmers, features a series of how-to videos, case studies and information about how digital farming can help transform agricultural businesses. Company precision agriculture manager Ben Kelly says advances in connectivity and data transfer means these technologies are now easier to use than ever before. “For example, it was common to have to manually input data, save it on a USB, and carry that with you from machine-to-machine and back to the office,” he says. “However, connectivity is improving…

I set out to see the one of the first Giant G5000s delivered to New Zealand in action on a goat farm, where its versatility saw it quickly added to the machinery fleet. Although the 5-tonne machine is firmly at the top of the Giant wheel loader range in terms of size, horsepower, reach, and lift capabilities, it’s still incredibly nimble and versatile – and best of all, these features are packed into a machine that manages to avoid being unnecessarily large. It’s a powerful package, with the telescopic boom on the machine we tested capable of reaching 4.35 metres. With reach like that, the machines are well suited to busy farm life in New Zealand as well as construction and a host of other projects. With such impressive reach,…

Ifyou’re in the market for a smaller, lower horsepower tractor then there are loads of options to choose from – such as the Mahindra 4025, built in India as a robust and reliable 40 horsepower (30kW) tractor. I travelled to the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand to meet with local dealer Prescott’s in Hikuai to see what the model has to offer. PLENTY OF GRUNT Under the bonnet the Mahindra has a four-cylinder 2.7-litre diesel engine, which interestingly meets tier four emission standards and is built in-house by Mahindra. It has a rated output of 41hp (31kW) or 31hp (23kW) at the power take-off (PTO) shaft and, while I never get to put this tractor to task with any PTO work, the engine feels reasonably responsive and like it has…

James Cook University will oversee the development of a smart weed spraying robot that could reduce herbicide usage on sugarcane farms in Great Barrier Reef catchment areas by at least 80 per cent. The two-year project, funded by a $400,000 grant through the partnership between the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, is a collaboration between JCU, AutoWeed and Sugar Research Australia. AutoWeed is a startup agricultural technology company developing smart spot spraying systems, and Sugar Research Australia will help assess the water quality improvements the new technology promises. JCU senior engineering lecturer Dr Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi will lead the project. He says the group’s effort will help reduce herbicide runoff, which is a serious threat to plants and animals in rivers, creeks, and coastal and…

The Narrowfold Hi Lift follows the overwhelming success the company says it has had with its Ultisow S40 Hi Lift seeder, which launched earlier this year. Serafin says many customers said they loved the fact that the Ultisow Hi Lift could lift 1m higher than a standard bar, allowing for easy access to the row units for servicing, adjustment and maintenance. But, they said, they needed it on machines smaller than the 9m or 12m sowing widths that were on offer in the Ultisow. Serafin sales manager Rodney Dunn says this got the grey matter rattling around and the team got to work on this latest project. “We decided to design an optional rear frame design that would allow us to hydraulically lift up the machine that would give us…

Using nine 3 watt, high-power Cree LED lights, the new lamp is designed to shine a contrasting, brilliant blue light across the length of a sprayer boom, illuminating the sprayer nozzles and spray pattern for visible assurance they are functioning correctly. Measuring just 102mm wide and 111mm high, including its tilt-adjustable bracket, the multi-volt lamp is compact and has a low current draw of 1.4A/0.7A (12V/24V). Narva says the lamp’s powerful spot beam pattern produces a broad coverage of light output, meaning fewer lamps are required for full visibility on larger equipment. The lamp is fully sealed and waterproof with a powder-coated, die-cast aluminium housing and polycarbonate lens, and fitted with an in-built Deutsch connector and stainless steel mounting hardware. Coming with a five-year LED warranty, the part is available…

People who relocate to country areas to take up farm work may be eligible for government grants to help with the move, under new budget measures announced recently. The federal government will modify its existing Relocation Assistance program, which it estimates will cost it $17.4 million over two years, to provide relocation rebates for workers. From November 1, relocation assistance will be available for people who move for ongoing work (including an apprenticeship) and those who relocate to harvest and regional areas to take up short-term agricultural work. Australians moving for short-term agricultural work may be eligible for up to $6,000, while visa holders with the right to work in Australia could be eligible for $2,000. If their new job is in the agricultural sector, it must be for at…

Geelong Classic Truck & Machinery Show – Breakwater January plays host to one of the biggest and best displays of classic trucks, tractors, cars, machinery plus much more. As well as having a range of visiting clubs and displays, the event also showcases the Vintage Machinery Section’s own pavilion with more than 15 fully operational steam engines, 12 permanently installed oil engines, a 1,000 horsepower marine steam engine, a wool scouring machine, and a large collection of steam models. WHEN: January 9-10, 2021 MORE INFO: www.classictruckandmachinery.com.au IDW Australia – Tatura Park Australia’s International Dairy Week, held in Tatura Park, Victoria, is a forum to showcase the latest developments in Australian dairy cattle, farming practices, dairy knowledge, breeding and genetics, machinery, equipment and technology, environmental management and services. Held during the…

Five Australian companies will join entrepreneurs from around the world in a mentoring and showcase program run by Rabobank. From a field of 340 applicants, the companies are among 45 from 14 countries to be invited to take part in the FoodBytes! Virtual Pitch 2020 program. Each of the 45 startups will participate in two weeks of virtual mentorship programming and one-on-one meetings with corporate leaders and investors, before pitching their solutions to Rabobank and 17 corporate and investor members. Of this group, 15 finalists will be chosen to participate in FoodBytes!’ live-streamed pitch competition December 2 for a chance to win one of three $10,000 and consultative prizes. Rabobank Australia head of innovation, knowledge and networks Nathalie Gibson says the selected Australian startups are a testament to local talent.…

This is a seriously cool looking tractor: I’m a big fan of the TRC Edition concept, as well as the option for Valtra Unlimited. There’s no denying a bit of chrome, flashing LED lights and some sweet tints bring out the magpie in many car and machinery enthusiasts. I’m not going to lie – I’m partial to some tractor bling, so arriving in Feilding to discover the tractor customisation going on at TRC Tractors was a bit of a sweet gig. The level of customisation available affords some pretty unique options. I’m not sure whether I entirely love the black on black rims on the Valtra T174EV. I do, however, like the Massey Ferguson 7720S with a red stripe around the outside, which I feel breaks it up a little…

I’m feeling a bit like a kid in a toy shop picking up the Kubota BX25D tractor/loader/backhoe from the sales team at Warrnambool dealership Agrimac. If this little BX25D can do everything that Kubota claims it can, I may never need to pick up a shovel again. This well-equipped tractor features a three-cylinder diesel engine, two-speed hydrostatic transmission, simple mechanical four-wheel drive engagement and a hydraulic system that lifts and lowers the mower deck from the driver seat. Two power take-off (PTO) drives provide power to either a mid-mount mower or implements on the rear. A lever on the left-hand side of the driver allows for three settings. The options are rear only, mid only or both simultaneously. Turning the key fired the liquid-cooled 23hp (17kW) engine into life. A…

For producers wanting to cover more ground more quickly, the C500 is 10 per cent wider than the previous model. Deere has introduced two new mower conditioner models amid a broader refresh of its lineup for 2021. The rear-mounted, vertical fold 3.1m R310R mower conditioner was designed, Deere says, to operate quickly and offer manoeuvrability in situations where the paddock size suits nimble 100hp (75kW) tractors. John Deere tactical marketing manager Fraser Scott says the new model was designed after a series of farmers and contractors told the company they needed a mower conditioner that could perform in tight paddocks and manoeuvre through narrow gateways. “As a vertical fold machine, the R310R meets both of those requirements,” he says. “Oblique folding at 126 degrees and a pivoting point close to…

Dieci understands the challenges Australian farmers face with their daily tasks. Once the reserve of contractors and specialist operators, today, the market for telehandlers has never been bigger – and neither has the range of options. The team at Dieci Australia has set out to make sure that it is able to supply almost every facet of Australia’s agricultural sectors. Company sales manager Anthony Lockwood says the company uses its more than 50 years of experience to give farmers the perfect machine for every need they might have. “Dieci understands the challenges Australian farmers face with their daily tasks, which is why, at Dieci Australia, we know how to match the exact solution to any agricultural requirement,” he says. “So whether you are a cotton grower from Wee Waa, a…

In its Q3 Global Dairy Quarterly, agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank forecasts national milk production will expand by 2.8 per cent in 2020–21, bringing it back above nine billion litres for the first time since the 2017–18 season. With rainfall expected to be above average across Australia’s main dairy belts from September through November, the sector is on track for a strong ‘spring flush’ with production peaking in October. Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey says this follows a turnaround in production conditions seen half way through the 2019–20 Australian dairy season, which finished at the end of June. “While national milk production for 2019/20 finished overall marginally down on the previous year at 8.775 million litres, it was a tale of two halves for the season,” he says. “Production was…

An extension of the instant asset write-off program was one of a series of generous business tax concessions made in this year’s budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the policy change will help kickstart activity in the private sector – expanding Australia’s productive capacity and creating new jobs. “Businesses with a turnover of up to $5 billion will be able to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets acquired from 7:30pm (AEDT) on 6 October 2020 and first used or installed by 30 June 2022,” he says. The policy, which does not cover mining businesses, has no limit on the value of assets eligible for full expensing. The measure is estimated to apply to around $200 billion-worth of investment and will cover around 3.5 million businesses, which the government…

It is equally a great opportunity for you to connect with your suppliers. A mid the madness of 2020, sometimes it is difficult to know if we are heading in the right direction. At times it feels like the pace of things is slowing down to a cautious crawl at the expense of our businesses, our economy and maybe even our sanity. Then, that speck of light in the distance provides us with everything we need to pick up our pace again and start heading forward, with the surety that everything is going to be alright. Naturally, there have been some nerves about whether everything will be good to go by 2021. Well, five months into 2021 actually: the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show will run from May 13 to 16…

We can afford to put a few billion of risk capital on the table to kickstart our innovation sector. If you remember the ABC TV show The Inventors, which ran from 1970 to 1982, it may surprise you to know that at one stage it was Australia’s highest rating TV show of the era and a disproportionate number of the winning ideas were farm inventions. Unfortunately, many of the great innovations showcased ran into the brick wall of a lack of risk capital to take their ideas from the farm workshop to the commercial world. Since the 1990s, it seems as though every prime minister wants to be remembered as the architect of the innovation revolution that turns Australia from being the lucky country to the smart country. Only problem…

Built in Korea and sold in Australia by Aussie agents Midway Sales, Branson tractors has a refreshingly logical naming scheme. The K78C is a 78 horsepower (58kW) engine, in a K-series chassis, fitted with a C – a cabin. It’s also the most powerful Branson yet to be made available in Australia and marks Midway’s move out of the hobby farmer market and towards supplying serious seven-days-a-week commercial buyers and users. It’s a bigger, stronger and better-equipped tractor than any of the smaller Bransons, but it’s probably fair to say its arrival in Australia won’t be causing any of the mainstream manufacturers to start corralling the wagons just yet. IMPRESSIVELY BUILT There’s no arguing that Branson tractors are impressively built: from the integration of Western components with quality home-built parts.…